Everyone stared at Heru. Mara was stunned and speechless.
Even Mr. White was surprised by his words. “Sounds like you want to marry her.”
Heru gazed back at him. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had a problem with it. Maybe you’re interested in her?” He gestured to the commander. “You want her to marry your son?”
“What are you talking about?” Commander White demanded, snapping his glare onto Heru. He shook his head. “You seriously think I’m interested in her?” He glared at Mara.
She looked back at him in discouragement. Tensions began to flare.
“Ah, dinner is here,” Lady Isabella said.
Servants arrived with dinner. Roast beef was on the menu. A plate was placed before Mara. The sight and smell took her eyes off of the commander.
“Even though this is an improvement,” the commander said in a calmer tone, “she’s not much to look at.”
Mara looked back at Commander White, knowing he was talking about her.
“Karl,” Mr. White began sharply, snapping his gaze on his son. “How rude! Apologize to her.” The old man looked flustered and refused to tolerate this behaviour any longer, even if his son was Commander of the Holy Blades.
The commander turned his glare onto Mr. White, surprised that he demanded an apology.
Mara shook her head. “It’s okay. I’ll take it as a compliment.”
“Well, I’m sorry,” Mr. White addressed Mara in a calmer tone. “He says that about every other woman.”
Heru snorted. “Well, he’ll never get married at this rate.”
Even Lady Isabella smiled at the remark.
Looking at Commander White, Mara saw the humiliation on his face. He glared at Mr. White while a plate of roast beef was placed before him. The aroma of the medium-rare cooked meat reached his nostrils. He dropped his glare and glanced down at his plate. He became transfixed by the meat as everyone else began to eat.
No one, except Mara, seemed to notice as he reached for the knife and fork. He sliced into the meat with shaky hands. Taking his fork, he stabbed the beef and lifted it to his mouth. He shuddered upon taking the first bite. After pulling the fork out, Commander White put it down. He did the same with his knife, but it hit the edge of the plate with a clang. It drew his father’s attention.
“Karl?” Mr. White called.
He ignored his father, his eyes hypnotically drawn to the red meat. He lifted his hands and reached for it. Picking up the meat with his bare hands, he lifted the slice to his mouth and bit into it. Juices leaked from the meat and filled his mouth—a trickle descended his chin. To say the least, Mara was stunned by his strange behaviour and she wasn’t alone.
“What are you doing?” Mr. White asked, expressing more concern.
Commander White kept ignoring his father and bit deeper into the meat. He shook his head, tearing the meal apart. Pulling away, he tore off a piece and swallowed. Neither Lady Isabella or Heru showed concern. They ate their meals as if nothing happened, but this strange display by him was not normal. He behaved like a werewolf. While wolfing down his meal, he stopped and stared off into space. The look in his eyes were unreadable. Whatever was going on inside of him, it was taking over.
“You must stop,” Mr. White said with a stern voice. “This isn’t like you.”
Mara watched the father reach for his hands, attempting to take the meat away. The son began to snarl and bare his teeth. No one was taking his meal away. Commander White growled. Rising from his seat, he lashed out at his old man with an inhuman expression. His chair was knocked over, finally grabbing everyone’s attention.
Mr. White shrank away in fear. “Karl!”
The commander’s face remained stuck for a few more seconds before it softened. His father’s voice finally reached him. Confusion took over. He glanced at the meat with horror. Evan approached to set his chair back up to its proper position. Sitting back down, he lowered his meal to the plate with shaky hands.
“What’s happening to me?” Commander White asked.
Evan stood by his left side. “Sir, you are experiencing the after-effects of lycanthropy.”
He looked at Evan in bewilderment. “What? Is this permanent?”
“No,” Evan answered. “This is normal. It will wear off in time.”
The commander watched his dinner plate for a few seconds. He rose from his chair again and stormed away from the table.
Mr. White gazed at him in concern. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to my room. I’m not hungry.”
Once he vanished from the dining hall, Heru gave a mocking grunt. “You can take the man out of the beast, but you cannot take the beast out of the man.”
Isabella remained silent for a while. “If you wish, I can help the commander,” Hema’s queen said, turning her gaze onto Mr. White.
He watched her with curiosity. “How?”
“I can use my glamour.”
Mara looked confused. “Never heard of this before.”
Lady Isabella glanced back at her. “It’s a form of hypnosis.” She turned her gaze to Mr. White. “I can help your son overcome this problem.”
Mr. White glanced at her, pondering her offer. “Okay, I’ll allow it, as long as Karl agrees. Thank you.”
After a very awkward dinner, Mara left the table and retired to her room. She felt Heru’s eyes on her while leaving.
***
Mara heard three knocks on her door.
“It’s me, Mr. White,” a voice called from the other side. Mara recognized his voice and answered. Opening the door, Mr. White walked in.
“What is it?” Mara asked.
He looked at her with a frown. “I wish to apologize for my son’s behaviour.”
Mara looked at him strangely. Why was he apologizing again? He already did that. She sighed. “Fine, I forgive you.” A question crossed her mind. “I don’t mean to pry, but does he drink?”
Mr. White looked at her with wide eyes. “How did you know?”
“Could smell it on him, at the meeting.”
“He’s been struggling with it,” the old man confessed, “since the death of his wife.”
“Oh, he was married?” Mara was curious about the commander’s former wife and how she died, but stopped herself. As a stranger to the father and son, it wasn’t her place to know. “Sorry to hear that.”
“I know, but let’s not end on a sad note,” Mr. White told her. Then, “I also want to address Heru.”
“Oh, that…”
“Are you really going to do it?”
She shook her head. “To be honest, I wish I said no, but didn’t know how he’d react.”
Mr. White nodded. “Make your own decisions. Don’t let anyone else decide for you.”
With that, he bid her good night.
They were to settle the murder of Saskia in the morning. Mara wasn’t sure how the two opposing parties would do this since they blamed each other. Still, any evidence or information could be helpful. She also planned on taking the cure once all discussions were done. Knowing tomorrow was going to be a big day, Mara turned in for the night. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
***
Mara opened her eyes, but didn’t recognize her surroundings. No longer was she in the guest room, but a cave filled with scattered bones of animals and humans.
“Where…?”
The howls of wolves cut her off. Flashes of last night’s events came to her mind. She was carried away by a large werewolf with white fur and glowing yellow eyes. She was surrounded by wolves, sniffing and whining. Mara was no longer in Isabella’s castle, but the Old Hunting Ground. She had been abducted.
He promised to take care of her, as Mara recalled. All she could do was hold her head and sigh in distress. For some reason, Heru thought she wanted to be with him and now he took her away to his home. She decided to wait for his return and tell him this was all a big misunderstanding. She made up her mind and planned to take the cure.
/>
Morning passed. Heru had yet to return.
While waiting, she began to wonder, ‘Do I have it?’
Thinking about the cure, Mara searched her belongings. She hoped she still had it. Within one of her pouches, she saw the vial filled with red liquid. Taking the vial out, she stared at it. She glanced up at the cave entrance before glancing to the cure. She removed her mask. Even though she hadn’t transformed, she wondered what will happen when she took it. She recalled Commander White almost vomiting out all his blood. Then again, he transformed and needed a larger dose. A smaller dose shouldn’t be as bad.
Mara opened the bottle and lifted it to her lips. She tilted her head back and drank the whole concoction. The cure tasted a little sweet and was thick. After drinking the whole thing she sat on the ground, waiting for the cure to take effect. Glancing down at a smooth stone, she saw a drop of blood fall onto it. She stared at the blood with curiosity and lifted her hand to her nose. Mara saw blood on her fingers; her nose began to bleed. Her body began to shake. Her throat felt like it was on fire, making her cough and wheeze.
She felt like throwing up. Mara tried to stand, but fell to her knees. She threw her head forward and vomited out a large quantity of blood. The choking sounds alerted the wolves, who entered the cave and growled at her. Heru was among them. Mara gazed up at him with a bloody face. Red liquid seeped from her eyes and ears. Despite losing a lot of blood, she began to feel better and made a quick recovery. However, Mara was in major trouble.
Heru frowned at her, and then looked down. His eyes began to glow yellow when he glanced up at her again. He released a roar as his skin split open and white fur covered his entire body. He tore at his flesh, allowing the fur to take its place. Mara stood back, watching the white beast emerge. A very impressive creature—his head resembled a wolf’s and the rest of his body appeared human. He had large hands with sharp claws. His legs were like the hind-quarters of a wolf and he owned a long bushy tail. He still kept his brown slacks, although more torn from his transformation. She stared in awe, but quickly noticed his angry face. He roared, baring his razor sharp fangs.
She dashed from Heru and he gave chase. The rough trail was seldom touched by man, making it easy to lose ones footing. She had to be careful lest she stumbled and fell. He snarled and gnashed his jaws as he ran on all fours. Mara looked back while running from the creature. Witnessing her take the cure angered Heru, now he wanted to end her life. The beast leapt into the air and lunged at her. She ducked underneath a thick tree branch, but Heru went right through it. It didn’t slow him down.
Leaving the trail, Mara recognized her surroundings. This was the place where she cured Commander White. She was close to Hemal. She kept running until she reached a dead end. Turning around, she saw the beast approaching her. Heru bared his teeth and snarled.
“Heru, please listen to me,” she pleaded, but he couldn’t be reasoned with. Heru kept snarling as he came closer.
Her eyes began to glow. Holding her hands behind her back, she pulled out a small silver dagger from her left glove. One thing she learned from her training by the Silver Thorns was to always have a secret weapon. Her eyes continued to glow yellow while staring back at her attacker. Heru lunged at her. A powerful force knocked the air out of her lungs. Mara heard a loud screech, and then a dying growl before slipping into the darkness.
***
Mara awoke to find herself underneath Heru. He remained in his beast form. She shoved him to the side and moved away from him. Standing up, she realized he wasn’t moving. Turning him over, she knew why. Her silver dagger was embedded deep in his chest. She recalled Lady Isabella’s warning about silver being lethal to a werewolf, but felt she had no choice. Blood seeped from the wound and his mouth.
She nudged him to see if he remained alive. He didn’t stir. Staring at the dagger, Mara reached over and pulled it out. A hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and held on tight, startling her. Still alive, Heru changed back. She gazed at his pale and near lifeless face. He looked up at her with glowing eyes.
“Why… did you do this?” Heru asked weakly.
“Had to defend myself,” Mara explained. “You tried to kill me.”
“I thought you wanted to be… in the pack…”
“What?”
“That letter you gave me…” He coughed up some blood. “You told me you wanted to stay as a werewolf.”
Mara was confused. “What letter?”
Heru reached for an item in his torn trousers, and then passed it to her with shaky hands. She took the letter and her eyes widened. It was addressed to Heru and signed in her name.
“I want to remain as a werewolf. Have no desire to be cured. Meet me in my bedchambers. We’ll leave in the middle of the night.” She looked up from the letter, her mind reeling.
“You wrote this… You told me you didn’t want to be cured.”
She looked at Heru. “I didn’t write this.”
Heru stared at her in bewilderment. He started heaving, drawing closer to his last breath.
“Who gave you this?” Mara asked.
“It… was… that man.”
He exhaled slowly and his body became still. The glow faded from his eyes, his irises became dark and lifeless. She stared at his body before turning her attention to the letter in her hands. Mara was positive she didn’t write this letter. This wasn't her handwriting. She gazed at Heru’s corpse. This looked bad—she just killed a guardian of a seal to the Dark One. She heard howls in the distance. Having no choice, she pulled the dagger out and left his body behind.
Chapter Eight
Choosing Sides
Mara reached Hemal by the afternoon. Returning from the Old Hunting Ground, her mind still reeled. Her heart was pounding as she tried to understand what happened. Her bloodstained attire grabbed the attention of bystanders. She ignored them while approaching Bartharoy Castle. She wanted to run, but didn’t have enough energy. Eventually, she reached the castle gate. Mara looked at the guards who wouldn’t budge.
“Please, I need to talk to Lady Isabella,” she requested.
After a moment the castle gates opened. Evan appeared to greet her, gazing at her indifferently. “Hello. How may we help you?”
She noticed his cold demeanour. He acted like they never met.
“I need to speak with Lady Isabella,” she told him.
Evan watched her. “For what reason do you seek an audience with Milady?”
Mara grew silent. Clearly, she wasn’t welcomed here. Was it because of what happened last night? She intended to correct this misunderstanding.
“Heru is dead.”
The steward and the guards were shocked. No one expected to hear these words. The guards glanced to each other, then to Evan for further instruction. Gaping at her, the steward beckoned her in.
“Please, do come in! Milady must know about this.” He led her to Isabella’s main chambers.
Isabella sat at her favourite chair with a glass of blood. Mr. White drank a cup of tea while Commander White had a glass of brandy. The three noticed her arrival. Isabella and Mr. White stood up.
The old man approached her, looking confused. “What are you doing here?”
“Yes, that is a question I’d like to know as well,” Lady Isabella said, folding her arms. She looked unpleased to see Mara. “I thought you wanted to spend the rest of your life as a beast.” After watching her, the ruler’s dismissive behaviour began to change. “The infection in your blood—I no longer sense it. You took the cure?”
Mara nodded.
“And what of Heru?” Isabella questioned.
Mara tried to think of an answer, but only one surfaced in her mind. “He’s dead.”
She saw wide eyes and open mouths. Mara suspected they were horrified, considering Heru was bound to a seal. Yet Hema’s ruler looked more amused.
“Is that so?” Lady Isabella asked with a hint of excitement. “How did he meet his end?”
Mara couldn’t lie. “
I killed him.”
Everyone stared at her in silence. Lady Isabella gave a smirk. “Oh, you did?”
“It was in self-defence!” Mara exclaimed, becoming flustered. “He abducted me. I only had the cure and a silver dagger. He saw me take the cure and it angered him. He tried to kill me. Thought the dagger would incapacitate him, but he died.” She watched each and every one of them, anticipating a response.
The vampire’s surprised reaction faded. “I should have warned you about taking the cure in front of him,” she said softly. “Heru was known to care for those bound to turn, hence why he showed compassion to you. It was in his nature to care for them as if they were his own children, but there was only so much he could do to keep them in check. He sometimes created a rogue that became out of control. Often these rogues wandered near human settlements and caused problems.” Isabella turned away. “Long ago, one wandered into Marrow and slaughtered everyone. It drove me to find a cure. I hired many doctors and scientists to create it. It took a while to perfect it, but now I’m able to prevent such tragedy from ever happening again. I even offered to cure Heru, but he refused.” She looked at Mara. “He took great pride being a werewolf.”
Mara gazed at her. While feeling guilty about killing him, she hadn’t forgotten the details of the incident. “He thought I wanted to stay as a werewolf and didn’t want the cure.”
Mr. White and Lady Isabella looked surprised.
“And did you?” Mr. White questioned.
Mara shook her head. “We spoke last night. You knew I intended to take the cure.”
Isabella folded her arms. “Possibly a set-up.”
The commander began to approach them. He was glaring at Mara the whole time ever since she returned from the Old Hunting Ground. She noticed his hateful stare, as well as the empty glass in his hand.
“Likely story,” he began in a cold tone. Everyone watched him.
Mr. White looked to his son with caution. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t believe me?” Mara asked, frowning at him.
Commander White shook his head. “No, I don’t,” he replied. He turned his attention to his father. “This is another possessor to die around her.” He glanced back at her. “I believe she’s the Cursed Herald from the prophecy.”
The Lost & Cursed Page 10
